I know a lot of women feel like they can’t wear a red lip. They say it’s too bold; it’s too bright; my lips are too thin, I don’t wear red….I’ve heard it all. But trust me on this. Swapping a basic red for deeper hues like plums, burgundies or brick—is a game-changer. While these darker shades are still bold, they don’t come across as in-your-face as one that’s fire-engine red, making them way easier to pull off. So go ahead, wear them with jeans, a silk jupe or a cashmere jumper and you’ll see how it magically brightens up your face and whitens your smile (blue-based reds visually cancel out any yellow on your teeth). So a berry lipstick isn’t just beautiful, it’s hella smart too.
A FEW BOLD LIPSTICK TIPS:
Keep lips flake-free. There’s nothing worse than seeing your beautiful red colour outshone by dry flakes.
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. ALL lip colours—not just these darker shades—look best on lips that are soft and smooth.
Stay within the lines. Dark lip colours won’t be as forgiving if you happen to draw a shaky line. It’s best to apply your lip colour, then if you’re using a lip pencil, draw the line only along the perimeter of your lip to help your shade stay put.
Simplify your beauty message. Your dark red lips don’t need a sidekick. Keep the rest of the face clean and simple, with only a few coats of mascara to define your lashes.
MY FAVOURITE DARKER HUES:
Nars Lipstick in Fast Ride, Art Deco Liquid Lasting Lipstick in Plum Darling, Burt’s Bees Lip Crayon in Napa Vineyard, Maybelline Color Jolt in Violet Rebel, CoverGirl Katy Kat Matte in Maroon Meow, Quo Lip Velour in Razzmatazz and Sephora Rouge Cream in Crush.
Still not convinced? I read an interesting article here about how to find a darker red to suit you. See? Now you have no excuses.